This fun and interesting home electronics kit is called The MaKey MaKey, and it can turn anything into a keyboard or game controller by linking objects to the circuit board via alligator clips.

Here's more on this fascinating kit:

How Does it Work?Alligator Clip two objects to the MaKey MaKey board. For example, you and an apple.

When you touch the apple, you make a connection, and MaKey MaKey sends the computer a keyboard message. The computer just thinks MaKey MaKey is a regular keyboard (or mouse). Therefore it works with all programs and webpages, because all programs and webpages take keyboard and mouse input.

What materials work with MaKey Makey?

Any material that can conduct at least a tiny bit of electricity will work (if it doesn't already work, just rub it with bananas, spray it with water, or apply copper tape). Here are some materials people have used in our workshops including Ketchup, Pencil Graphite, Finger Paint, Lemons, etc.

Other materials that work great: Plants, Coins, Your Grandma, Silverware, Anything that is Wet, Most Foods, Cats and Dogs, Aluminum Foil, Rain, and hundreds more...

It's a fun way to learn about how keyboards and game controllers work without destroying your own equipment, and since their recent Kickstarter campaign far exceeded their original monetary goal, it should be hitting the store shelves soon.